From pilots at Delta Airlines to public school teachers, several American workers have faced termination for their responses to the assassination of Charlie Kirk on social media.
Kirk, a well-known conservative podcaster, was shot and killed last Wednesday while speaking at a university event in Utah, part of a tour with Turning Point USA, which he co-founded.
Graphic footage of the incident soon circulated online, accompanied by distasteful jokes aimed at right-wing figures.
Airlines
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy noted on social media that American Airlines pilots who were caught celebrating Kirk’s death have been “quickly grounded and removed from service.” He advocated for these pilots’ dismissal, asserting that condoning political violence is unacceptable.
The airline stated it is addressing the situation, emphasizing that actions fueled by hate contradict its mission of caring for people.
Delta has suspended an unspecified number of employees for sharing posts deemed disrespectful, warning that breaching their social media policy could lead to firings.
Schools
Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn called for the termination of a Tennessee State University Middle School employee who commented, “Hatred creates hatred. Zero’s sympathy.” The university confirmed the employee was dismissed swiftly.
South Carolina GOP Representative Nancy Mace also demanded the dismissal of public school teachers, and the district later announced that these teachers were no longer employed. Similarly, Idaho’s West Ada School District dismissed an employee for posting inappropriate content online, expressing shock and sadness at the situation.
A science teacher in Oregon resigned after taking a leave of absence to post about Kirk on Facebook. Clemson University in South Carolina has also suspended several employees as they await further investigation into their online activity related to Kirk’s death.
Health Care
The University of Miami Healthcare System terminated an employee for making “unacceptable public commentary.” The healthcare provider stressed that while free speech is important, any expression that condones or celebrates violence contradicts their values.
Children’s Healthcare in Atlanta fired workers who made inappropriate remarks about Kirk’s murder, highlighting that such rhetoric is unacceptable and violates their policies.
MSNBC
Matthew Dowd, an analyst for MSNBC, was let go following comments suggesting that Kirk’s “bad words” contributed to the violence. MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler criticized his remarks as “inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable.”
In an article following his dismissal, Dowd insisted his comments were misunderstood and that MSNBC responded to public pressure.
Office Depot
Office Depot in Michigan terminated an employee for allegedly refusing to print a flyer supporting Kirk. The company labeled the incident as unacceptable and plans to enhance training to prevent future occurrences.
Microsoft
Microsoft announced it is examining negative comments made by some employees regarding Kirk. Elon Musk claimed that Microsoft leadership received significant backlash, as some employees from Blizzard, a Microsoft-owned game company, made insensitive remarks.
Nasdaq
Nasdaq reported that it fired an employee for comments violating their policy on celebrating violence.
Perkins Coie
Perkins Coie, a law firm previously targeted by President Trump, dismissed an attorney for posting content related to Kirk and clients like George Soros.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have let go of a public relations officer for inappropriate comments regarding Kirk. The team clarified that the views of the employee do not align with their own.
DC Comics
DC Comics canceled the release of the “Red Hood” comic series after its author made remarks about Kirk’s death online, expressing a lack of respect for the situation.
Freddie’s
Freddie’s Frozen Custard & Steak Burgers in Kansas terminated an employee for comments expressing approval of Kirk’s death, asserting that such opinions do not reflect the company’s values.
Coordinated Efforts
Reports suggest a coordinated effort surrounding the shooting, with a doxing site called “Charlie’s Murderer Disclosure” collecting information on those who commented about Kirk. The site received around 30,000 submissions but was unavailable for access later.
Independent journalist Rachel Gilmore described the backlash she received, saying that threats and harassment made her life unbearable after being mentioned on the doxing site. She asserted that she never celebrated Kirk’s death.
